Kalamazoo County Courts and Court Services

The District Court handles traffic violations, all civil cases (general civil, landlord-tenant) with claims up to $25,000, small claims, traffic tickets, and all misdemeanor criminal. All criminal cases, for persons 17 years or older, begin in the district court and may be bound over to the circuit court if the crime is punishable by more than 1 year in jail.

The Michigan Constitution vests the judicial power of the State in one court of justice which includes one Supreme Court, one Court of Appeals and one trial court of general jurisdiction known as the Circuit Court. This court hears civil cases seeking more than $25,000 in damages, all felony criminal matters, all family matters. Judges of the Family Division have jurisdiction over cases involving juvenile delinquents, abused and neglected children, adoptions, name changes, emancipations and domestic relation matters.

The Probate Court is a court of statutory jurisdiction. The court hears cases concerning decedent estates and wills, trust administration, appointment and supervision of guardians and conservators for minors, adults and developmentally disabled individuals and mental health cases including commitment hearings and transport orders. The Probate Court also has jurisdiction regarding the examination of safe deposit box of a deceased person, secret marriages, drain proceedings, establishing death of disaster/accident victims and delayed registration of foreign birth.

The Friend of the Court office enforces child support, medical support, custody, parenting time, and spousal support (alimony) court orders established by the Family Division of the Circuit Court. The Family Division of Circuit Court conducts the hearings for these cases. The Finance Services unit provides accounting and auditing support for FOC.

The Kalamazoo County Juvenile Home houses young persons who have violated the law and holds them until court processes are completed and more permanent placements are made. It offers a comprehensive range of programs that include skill building, educational and vocational training, conflict resolution and mediation training. All programming is intended to allow young people develop skills that may reduce criminal and other offensive behaviors.